Kevin L. Raye's 2002 Campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives

This was the official website for Kevin L. Raye's 2002 Campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives​. The content below is from the site's archived pages. Raye was narrowly defeated by a State Senator by the name of Michaud. The general election between Raye and Michard garnered considerable publicity because the Democratic candidate was pro-life, while the Republican was pro-choice.

There was quite the brouhaha when newly elected Michaud then became the only freshman Democratic member of Congress to vote for the 2003 ban on intact dilation and extraction (IDX). I remember the day well, not necessarily because of the vote, but because while I was reading the New York Times about Michaud defection, my cat knocked over my large mug of coffee onto a new oriental rug I had just bought. Dismay doesn't describe the panic I felt. I mopped up the mess as well as I could and then did a search online for an oriental rug cleaning Manhattan area company. The initial misfortune led me to finding a great rug cleaning company that specialized in not only cleaning, but also restoring oriental carpets. A representative came that afternoon and after inspecting the carpet assured me that they could remove the coffee stain. A week later the carpet returned looking like new. Over the years I have used the Agara rug cleaning company on several occassions and they have never disappointed. Resurrecting this site stirred a number of memories from 2002, but that coffee spill will always stand out for me.

Now for visitors to this site, take for a nostalgic look back to 2002 when Kevin Raye's campaign was hitting its stride after defeating State Senator Stavros Mendros, State Representative Dick Campbell, and Tim Woodcock in the primary.

Letters from Kevin L. Raye

Thank You!

June 28, 2002

Thanks to your continued support, I am honored today to become the Republican Party's 2nd Congressional District nominee. I could not have done it without your enthusiastic support!

I would also like to thank Tim Woodcock for the grace and dignity he displayed throughout this campaign and for offering his support today. Having his support will be absolutely pivotal to returning this seat to the Republican column in November.

I am prepared to work as hard as I can between now and Election Day to win this race. Over the next few months YOU will be crucial to this important effort and I ask for your continued support. Please visit the "Get Involved" and "Contribute" pages of my website to find out more about how you can help.

Thank you again!

Sincerely,

Kevin L. Raye

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February 2003

Dear Friends:

Thank you for visiting the website of my 2002 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. My wife Karen and I have been deeply touched by the many thoughtful expressions of kindness and encouragement since the election.

Winning the Republican nomination to represent Maine’s 2nd Congressional District was the greatest honor of my life. While we fell short of the victory we worked so hard to achieve, I am profoundly grateful for the terrific support I received during the campaign. I am especially proud of the extraordinary group of people who came together both before and after our hard- fought primary victory, and put together the strong organization that helped me win 48% of the vote on November 5, 2002. By winning more than 107,000 votes, we made the best showing for a 2nd District Republican since Olympia Snowe’s final House race in 1992.

With the 2002 campaign behind us, Karen and I are at home in my hometown of Perry, in Washington County. We are busy with our own small business -- Down East Strategies, LLC. This new venture gives us an opportunity to do consulting work in a variety of areas that we hope will benefit Maine people – with a focus on the creation and retention of manufacturing jobs. My goal is to put my years of experience working for Maine at the federal level to help expand opportunity for our young people so they can stay in the 2nd District to carve out their lives.

If you wish to be in touch with me, please feel free to email me at: kevinraye@downeast.net.

Thank you,

Kevin L. Raye

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Kevin L. Raye

Kevin L. Raye is a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Maine's Second Congressional District. He formerly served for more than seventeen years on the staff of U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), the last six and a half years as her Chief of Staff.

Raye first became acquainted with Snowe in 1977 when he was a high school student. The following year, at the age of 17 - still not old enough to vote - he became a county chairman for Snowe's successful Congressional bid and was elected as an officer of his local Republican town committee. As a college student in 1980, he worked as field coordinator on Snowe's first re-election campaign.

From 1987 to 1994, Kevin served as District Director for Congresswoman Snowe, overseeing her staff and three offices throughout Maine's 2nd Congressional District. In this role, he served as Snowe's liaison and worked closely with community and civic leaders throughout the district.

He served as campaign manager of several of Snowe's House re-election bids. He also served as a member of the Maine Republican State Committee from 1987 to 1994; was a member of the Maine Republican State Platform Committee in 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1994; and served as chairman of the Brewer Republican City Committee for a number of years. He has been a delegate to every Maine Republican State Convention since 1980.

In 1994, he was Finance Chairman for Snowe's successful campaign for the U.S. Senate, raising $2.7 million - a record that still stands for Maine Senate races. Upon Snowe's election to the Senate, she tapped Kevin to serve as her Chief of Staff. He assembled a talented and hard-working team, and for more than six years, led Senator Snowe's staff on Capitol Hill and in her six Maine offices.

A fifth-generation native of Washington County, Kevin Raye was born in Eastport, Maine, on February 7, 1961, the seventh of eight sons of Harry J. and Frances M. Raye. His father is a retired electrician and his mother is a retired elementary school teacher.

Kevin earned a degree in political science from Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, in 1983. He is a member of North Perry United Methodist Church in Perry, Maine, and Grace United Methodist Church in Bangor, Maine.

Kevin is married to the former Karen Howard, a native of Bangor. The Rayes reside in Perry, Maine.

In The News

Raye Wins Maine Mock Election

October 31, 2002

More than 11,500 2nd District students voted in the election. The results were as follows:

Kevin Raye 6,100 (53%)

Michael Michaud 5,442 (47%)

Raye Wins Endorsement of Bangor Daily News

October 28, 2002

Despite the extensive government experience of both candidates in the race for the open seat in the 2nd Congressional District, voters will be making a leap of faith Nov. 5. But the surer step is toward Republican Kevin Raye, the seasoned former chief of staff for Sen. Olympia Snowe and an articulate, thoughtful candidate in his own right..."

Raye Wins Endorsement of Advertiser Democrat

October 24, 2002

We have met and interviewed both men. While we believe Michaud is a good, honest, individual, he is far more likely to oppose President Bush’s decisions and policies than Republican Kevin Raye, who we also have met and find to be extremely qualified for the seat. Raye’s experience in Washington working for Snowe will put him miles ahead of his opponent in finding the right way to help Western Maine"

Raye Wins Endorsement of Morning Sentinel and Kennebec Journal

October 24, 2002

Maine's 2nd Congressional District has a fine tradition of sending men and women to Congress who put the interests of their constituents ahead of partisan politics or personal ambition. We believe that Republican Kevin Raye has the experience and commitment to public service that positions him to continue that tradition..."

Raye the better choice for Maine's 2nd District

October 20, 2002

Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram: "...on the issues, the race comes down to who would be the more effective advocate for Maine's 2nd District. We believe that person to be Kevin Raye..."

Bangor Daily News Endorsement Raye for the 2nd District

October 28, 2002

Despite the extensive government experience of both candidates in the race for the open seat in the 2nd Congressional District, voters will be making a leap of faith Nov. 5. But the surer step is toward Republican Kevin Raye, the seasoned former chief of staff for Sen. Olympia Snowe and an articulate, thoughtful candidate in his own right...

October 24, 2002
Maine's 2nd Congressional District has a fine tradition of sending men and women to Congress who put the interests of their constituents ahead of partisan politics or personal ambition. We believe that Republican Kevin Raye has the experience and commitment to public service that positions him to continue that tradition...

October 20, 2002
Despite impressions left by the barrage of negative television ads regarding the race for Maine's 2nd Congressional District, it's difficult to pry the two candidates apart on the issues...

Raye Leads Second District Race By 6 Points In New Poll

October 12, 2002
Republican candidate Kevin Raye, of Perry, has taken a 6-point lead in the race for the open 2nd Congressional District seat, according to a poll of 400 likely voters conducted October 9-10 by Public Opinion Strategies...

Tables turned in Second District race

October 6, 2002
Northern Maine's congressional race again has reversed national assumptions, this time in the debate over who is more trustworthy to protect Social Security...

Raye Touts Agenda to Create Good Jobs

September 27, 2002

While touring the facilities at the Maine Distributors in Bangor today, Second District Congressional candidate Kevin Raye discussed his economic development agenda and promised to advocate policies to foster economic growth and help create good jobs...

Raye Unveils Health Care Reform Plan

September 16, 2002
Second District Congressional candidate Kevin Raye today unveiled his health care reform plan during an appearance at the Waldo County General Hospital. Raye outlined five principles to guide his health care agenda. His plan includes policy prescriptions to help the uninsured afford coverage and to enhance health security for people of all ages...

Raye: Creating Good Jobs Is Priority Number One

September 4, 2002
Congressional candidate Kevin Raye today outlined proposals to grow the Second District economy and bring good paying jobs into the region. Raye discussed his job priorities this morning at a Second District candidate forum sponsored by the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce and Husson College...

Raye Reiterates Priorities to Protect Social Security

August 30, 2002
In an appearance on the Voice of Maine's "Maine in the Morning" radio program today, Second District Congressional candidate Kevin Raye reiterated his opposition to creating personal accounts in the Social Security system. Later in the day, Raye appeared with Kathryn Hunt for the public signing of the Maine Code of Election Ethics sponsored by the Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy...

District 2 House Seat Draws Eyes ofNation

August 27, 2002
With political oddsmakers calling the campaign for Maine's 2nd Congressional District a toss-up, and with the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives at stake, the Republican National Committee on Monday ramped up its support of Kevin Raye, the party's candidate for the seat now held by Democratic U.S. Rep. John Baldacci...

Campaign in Maine's Woods Shapes up as a Bellwether

August 11, 2002
LEWISTON, Maine - In November, as both parties struggle for control of a narrowly divided Congress, every seat will count. And some races, like the one in the 2d Congressional District in Maine, matter more than others...

GOP Candidates Follow Dems in Bashing Social Security Plan

July 20, 2002
BREWER - It's a political issue that has not been discussed much this year, but two Democratic candidates for Congress on Friday wanted to tell voters that they are opposed to all forms of privatization of Social Security...

Upside Down East; Abortion Stances Could Muddle Maine House Race

July 15, 2002
With the dust settled from a primary that attracted the attention of a host of outside groups, voters in Maine's 2nd district are faced with a highly unusual choice: an anti-abortion Democrat or a pro-abortion rights Republican...

Maine Ccandidates Take Aim at Corporate Crime

July 9, 2002
BANGOR - With President Bush poised to speak about business ethics today on Wall Street, Maine Democratic congressional candidates Monday urged the administration to crack down on corporate criminals in the wake of a string of high-profile accounting scandals...